CHORLEY skipper Jim Fazackerley has called for a truce between his players and their Darwen rivals as the Northern League's top two prepare to go head-to-head on Bank Holiday Monday.

Last season's match at Birch Hall was marred when a Darwen player had to be reprimanded by the umpires for comments directed at several young Chorley players.

Chorley were then later docked five points by Northern League officials as a result of remarks made on a website, but Fazackerley wants an end to the bad blood which exists between the two sides.

"It would be nice if we could go to Darwen and concentrate on the cricket rather than all the nonsense that seems to go on when we meet up.

"We want to go there and have a good hard game of cricket."

The same applies to Darwen, who are currently second behind Chorley at the top of the Northen League.

But first they have to negotiate the side that finished runners-up to them last season tomorrow when they go to Morecambe.

Chairman Peter Lamster said: "That's a vital one for us becasue Morecambe will be up there again this season.

"Then we have Chorley so that makes it two very important games over the weekend."

Chorley will warm up for the derby clash with a home game against Leyland and Farington tomorrow.